Everything You Need to Know About Getting Tested for STIs

We deal with sexually transmitted infections otherwise from different infections. If your pal has a chilly, you say, “Oh, that sucks,” not, “Gross, you should have been more careful!” 

If there’s a virus going round, you get a pamphlet explaining what it’s and the way to not catch it — not shamed for being unclean. Rather than ready till they’re youngsters and telling them not to hang around with sure folks, we vaccinate kids to maintain them secure from sure illnesses. 

But in many individuals’s minds, sexually transmitted infections — STIs for brief, and previously often known as STDs — are completely different. Unfortunately, due to their affiliation with intercourse, they’re typically seen as a lot scarier and extra shameful. 

RELATED: Here’s How Not to Get an STI

As a consequence, folks are inclined to method their sexual well being in backwards or unproductive methods by being blissfully ignorant till it’s too late. That mentioned, defending your self from STIs isn’t tremendous complicated, and in contrast to different infections, there are low cost and simple methods to search out out for those who’re affected. 

AsokMen spoke with a handful of sexual well being specialists to get the information on what it’s essential to find out about STI assessments, from how they work to why they’re essential to why guys typically are inclined to keep away from taking them.


What Is an STI Test?


“A STI test is done to check if you have a sexually transmitted infection, such as chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, HPV, HIV, herpes, or syphilis,” says Dr. Janet Brito, a intercourse therapist primarily based in Hawaii. 

However, not all assessments are the identical. Depending on what you’re getting examined for, with many assessments checking for a number of infections without delay, the check might take a special type. Common methods to examine for STIs are “via a blood sample, a swab, or a urine analysis,” provides Brito.

Why Getting Tested Is Important

If you’ve by no means been examined earlier than, you may not be completely clear on why getting examined pretty commonly is essential. 

“If you are sexually active, especially if you are engaging in unprotected sexual activity, participating in high risk sexual behavior (i.e have multiple partners), starting a new relationship, noticing any symptoms (i.e. foul discharge, burning during urination, bumps, or sores around or on genital area, pain, itching, inflammation), it is best to get a STI test to rule out any possible infections and to avoid any health complications that may arise and that could be treated early on,” says Brito. 

“It is also important to get tested even when you do not have symptoms,” she provides, “as some STIs may be asymptomatic” — that means you may not see the indicators till you’ve already handed it on to another person — or worse, a number of folks. 

Beyond simply treating signs as to additionally keep away from infecting different folks, understanding your STI standing is essential to make sure your STI doesn’t turn into one thing worse if untreated. 

“It is important to discuss your sexual health practices with your doctor, especially if you are engaging in anal sex,” notes Brito. “An anal pap smear can help to screen for HPV as well. Not receiving proper care for STI symptoms may result in more complicated health challenges, like infertility or cancer.”

How Often You Should Get Tested

As for the way typically you must get examined, there’s nobody single reply. 

It turns into extra essential in sure particular circumstances, notably for those who discover potential signs, and/or once you’re about to start out sleeping with a brand new accomplice. 

“The CDC guidelines about how often to get tested are ambiguous because there’s no magic bullet,” explains Lauren Weiniger, cofounder of an app referred to as SAFE, which permits customers to privately present their verified STI standing on their cellphone and get examined. “It depends on your lifestyle, and your risk tolerance. The guidelines vary from three to six months, but some people choose to get tested every two weeks.”

Why Some Guys Avoid Getting Tested

However, for those who’re most guys — notably straight guys, who typically have fewer companions than their queer counterparts — you’re most definitely not getting examined each two weeks. 

You may not be getting examined each three to 6 months, both. In truth, some guys have by no means gotten examined, no matter their sexual historical past. There are a couple of explanation why that may be the case. 

“Some guys may not get tested because they do not know to get tested (i.e. do not have enough comprehensive sex education around the benefits of getting tested),” says Brito. They may additionally skip getting examined as a result of they “don’t have any symptoms that they are aware of.”

Perhaps essentially the most urgent challenge, nevertheless? Guys avoiding getting examined “due to stigma and shame around sexuality and the issue of STIs,” as Brito places it. “This worry may prevent guys from getting tested and seeking help.”

In order to assist fight that, demystifying STI assessments could possibly be helpful — so hold studying to search out out what they’re like, how they work and find out how to get one executed. 


The Different Kinds of STI Tests, Explained


While it may be handy to take a check that checks for all of the completely different STIs without delay, no such check exists (not but, a minimum of). 

In international locations with common healthcare like Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and others, syphilis assessments are usually coated in complete or largely. 

However, within the United States, you would possibly want non-public insurance coverage with the intention to pay for an STI check, and relying on which insurance coverage you will have and the place you go to get examined, your STI check might or is probably not coated. If you’re not sure, it’s finest to look into it earlier than exhibiting up. 

That being mentioned, right here’s a breakdown of some widespread STIs and what it’s wish to get examined for them: 

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a bacterial an infection that usually presents no signs. However, when it does, the outcomes usually are not nice. 

RELATED: How to Diagnose and Treat Chlamydia

Men who come down with chlamydia signs typically expertise burning sensations once they urinate, testicle ache, scrotum swelling and even discharge a secretion from the penis. 

Luckily, as soon as it’s identified, it’s simply treatable with antibiotics. 

How the Chlamydia Test Works

The check for chlamydia is usually an evaluation of both a urine pattern or a swab of the genital space. 

How Long It Takes to Get Results

A typical period of time to get outcomes again for a chlamydia check is 7 to 10 days. Often, clinics will solely contact you for those who check optimistic — that means for those who don’t hear again, you’re within the clear. 

Gonorrhea

Like chlamydia, most individuals with gonorrhea gained’t expertise signs. However, when these signs do happen, they embody burning sensations, delicate or damaged pores and skin on the genitals and a milky-white discharge of pus. 

RELATED: How to Diagnose and Treat Gonorrhea

Yes, the an infection is so named as a result of gonorrhea means “flow of seed” in historic Greek — medical doctors on the time mistook the discharge for semen. 

Gonorrhea can also be handled with antibiotics, however over time, some strains of the an infection have turn out to be more and more immune to the medicine. It’s led to a model referred to as “super gonorrhea,” which is tougher, however not unimaginable, to treatment. 

How the Gonorrhea Test Works

Like the chlamydia check, the check for gonorrhea is an evaluation of both a urine pattern or a swab of the genital space. 

How Long It Takes to Get Results

Like chlamydia, gonorrhea assessments usually take 7 to 10 days to listen to again, and once more, for those who check detrimental, you is probably not contacted in any respect. 

HIV

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is essentially the most severe illness that’s sexually transmitted, as it will probably morph into AIDS, a illness that has traditionally been fairly lethal. 

Although current medical advances, similar to the event of PReP therapies, have made HIV a lot much less more likely to have deadly penalties, understanding your HIV standing continues to be of paramount significance. 

How the HIV Test Works

HIV assessments are executed on a blood pattern, that means both a syringe can be used to attract some blood out of your arm, or a finger prick can be carried out. 

How Long It Takes to Get Results

Some facilities supply speedy HIV check outcomes, the place you possibly can uncover your lead to a matter of minutes. However, taking a traditional HIV check may imply it’ll take days to weeks to get outcomes. 

Herpes

There are two various kinds of herpes: HSV-1 and HSV-2, which might each produce sores across the mouth and genitals — sores that themselves are infectious. 

RELATED: How to Diagnose and Treat Genital Herpes

Herpes can even go away you with a rash within the genital area, in addition to an disagreeable fever. T in the mean time, however it may be handled utilizing antiviral drugs. If left untreated, nevertheless, herpes can have severe results on varied different components of the physique, so taking it significantly is massively essential. 

How the Herpes Test Works

The check for herpes differs relying on whether or not you’re presenting signs or not. If no signs are current, a blood check is finished. If there are signs, along with the blood check, you’ll get a swab of the affected space executed. 

How Long It Takes to Get Results

Depending on the kind of check, it will probably take between 1 and 14 days to get outcomes from a herpes check. 

Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial an infection that may have devastating well being penalties if left untreated. 

After the primary stage — painless sores seem on or across the genitals however then recede — folks with syphilis will start experiencing an infectious pores and skin rash, intense chilly signs and even hair loss.

RELATED: How to Diagnose and Treat Syphilis

If it’s nonetheless left untreated, the third stage of syphilis entails the illness spreading to varied different components of the physique, together with the mind, the place it will probably trigger severe and wide-ranging injury. However, if syphilis is handled earlier than it begins to progress to the second stage, it’s comparatively straightforward to treatment, typically requiring only a single shot of penicillin. 

How the Syphilis Test Works

A syphilis check is finished utilizing both a blood pattern or a pattern of fluid from a syphilis sore, if signs are current. 

How Long It Takes to Get Results

Getting your syphilis check outcomes again can take between three and 5 days.

HPV

HPV, which stands for human papillomavirus, is a quite common virus; nearly 80 million people are at present contaminated within the United States. In truth, HPV is so widespread that just about all women and men get it sooner or later of their lives. 

Most of the time, the virus goes away by itself, however some strains of HPV can result in cervical most cancers if not discovered and handled.

“You could possibly be carrying a cancer-causing strain without knowing it,” says Engle. “There isn’t much you can do other than use condoms and be aware and educated about sexual health and wellness.”

How the HPV Test Works

There’s at present no check for males who’re HPV-positive and don’t present signs (which is the overwhelming majority of males).

How Long It Takes to Get Results

With no present check for males, there’s no means of understanding. However, if a feminine accomplice you’ve had unprotected intercourse with will get examined for HPV — a reasonably good marker of whether or not you will have it — that may take one to a few weeks.


How to Find Out Your STI Status


Finding a Nearby Testing Location

Going into an pressing care with out insurance coverage can go away you with a invoice of over $1,000. That’s why it’s essential to search out sexual well being clinics that provide free care to people with out insurance coverage or settle for insurance coverage with just a little to zero copay.

“The best advice I can give is to Google local free clinics in the area and always check for the closest Planned Parenthood,” says Gigi Engle, an authorized intercourse coach and medical sexologist.

(If you reside within the United States, you possibly can head on over to the Planned Parenthood locator to search out the closest location to you.)

“At a free clinic you can expect to be seen by a nurse practitioner. They’ll take a blood sample and test for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and sometimes Hepatitis B. They don’t test for herpes unless they expect an infection, meaning that you’re having an outbreak.”

RELATED: Conversations to Have With Your Doctor

“You can also talk to your primary care physician, and don’t be afraid to tell them what’s going on. If you feel like you can’t comfortably discuss medical issues with your doctor, find a new one. You should always feel safe,” Engle added.

The Safe app is but an alternative choice. The app privately reveals your verified STI standing in your cellphone, and likewise hyperlinks customers to testing facilities. “With the app, you can skip the doctor and book testing directly at over 30,000 labs across the U.S., usually the same day and in under 15 minutes. It’s only $99 out of pocket, or you can use your insurance to cover the cost,” says Weiniger.

Using At-Home STI Test Kits

If you’re in a state of affairs the place going to a close-by clinic isn’t a handy, possible or out there choice, you may as well make use of the burgeoning at-home STI check package business. 

As with so many industries at present, STI assessments are one thing you possibly can have delivered to your entrance door — however are they nearly as good as getting examined by knowledgeable? At least in the interim, most likely not, partially as a result of the strategy at-home kits use (urine evaluation) isn’t essentially the most correct when in comparison with getting your blood work executed. 

As properly, for those who’re already experiencing STI signs, you must converse with a health care provider about them anyway, so taking an at-home check may not be essentially the most helpful method. 

That being mentioned, for those who’re symptom-free, not partaking in high-risk sexual conduct and simply desire a fast, comparatively correct checkup, an at-home STI check package isn’t a horrible thought.

To discover out the very best at-home STI check package for you, you possibly can take a look at AsokMen’s record of them beneath: 

RELATED: The Best Proven At-Home STI Test Kits


When to Get an STI Test Done


1. If You Don’t Plan on Using Condoms With Your Partner

After a interval of courting, it’s not that unusual for these in a monogamous relationship to resolve that condoms aren’t essential anymore. Prior to having unprotected intercourse, it’s extremely advisable to get examined to make sure that each you and your accomplice are detrimental for all STIs — even for those who really feel utterly wholesome.

“Many STIs have a latency period,” warns Weiniger. Meaning, it will probably take as long as six weeks following intercourse to indicate up optimistic for a sexually transmitted an infection similar to syphilis. “An STI test is a snapshot in time, so while someone may have tested negative a few weeks ago, there’s no guarantee they haven’t been exposed or they weren’t already exposed since that test was valid.”

That’s why it’s advisable to proceed utilizing safety for 2 months following the final time you had intercourse with one other particular person. After eight weeks, the assessments for all STIs would be the most correct.

2. If You or Your Partner Notice Any Physical Changes

If you begin to see some ugly sores, expertise ache urinating, or start releasing discharge, it’s undoubtedly time to get examined. 

RELATED: What You Should Know About Penis Health Care

Flu-like signs, together with a excessive fever and swollen lymph nodes, may additionally point out that you just lately contracted a virus (presumably HIV or herpes). If you’re experiencing any of those signs, you must cease having intercourse and wait till your outcomes return earlier than having intercourse once more.

While males are significantly more likely than girls to indicate signs after buying an STI, “STIs can be asymptotic and not just in women,” clarifies Ben Davis, MD, an attending doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Sexual Health Clinic. 

He provides, “Men are commonly asymptotic in the throat and rectum,” which is why it’s essential for males, particularly males who’ve intercourse with different males, to have each oral and rectal swabs accomplished when examined.

3. If One of You Has Cheated

If both of you’re having unprotected intercourse with somebody exterior of the connection, getting examined is essential — even for those who didn’t go “all the way.” Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HSV-2 (genital herpes) can nonetheless be handed if oral intercourse is carried out.

Even for those who used a condom once you cheated, it nonetheless may be a good suggestion to go in a get examined, simply in case.

RELATED: Everything You Should Know About Cheating

“Since condoms do prevent most STIs, I’m not sure I agree that routine STI testing is indicated after sex with condoms [after cheating],” Davis says. 

“On the other hand, penetrative intercourse is not the only way to get STIs. You can get it from oral, including rimming. Also, STIs can be spread by skin to skin — HPV and HSV, to name two common ones. So I’d have to say I probably agree it’s a good idea to get tested after cheating with a condom, but I want to strongly make the point that condoms do protect against most STIs.”

with further reporting by Zachary Zane

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